book tag

TBR Alphabet Book Tag

Friday, April 15, 2022

It's been a while since I did a book tag. While browsing the web, I came across this one and it looked so fun! This book tag is meant to showcase some of those books I have on my TBR by organizing them from A to Z. I know quite a few readers who also participate in the A to Z annual book challenge so if I ever want to join, I would just have to look back on this post and see which books I want to read would fit for that challenge. 


If you like this book tag, consider yourself tagged. It was super fun to find books that I own that fit with each letter of the alphabet and with no authors overlapping. Articles like "A" and "The" can be excluded if you want. I found this tag over at Read by Tiffany. Here's the tag:


A - All Fired Up by Dylan Newton: I'm planning on reading this one next. I received it from the publisher and it just looks like such a cute romance. It releases in May.

B - Beautiful Wild by Anna Godbersen: I haven't heard anyone mention this one. This is Godbersen's newest release. It's a historical romance, which is Godbersen's specialty so I know it's going to be great.

C - Conceal, Don't Feel by Jen Calonita: I have been lowkey collecting Disney's Twisted Tales series that ask specific "what if" questions that change the entire original tale. I am excited to read one and see if I like them.


D - Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau: I purchased this on a whim at a used book store. It's a quite short fantasy book.

E - Ever Cursed by Corey Ann Haydu: I must admit this book was most definitely a cover buy for me. I mean, look at how gorgeous that cover is. Stunning!

F - Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes: My brother recently moved and he gave me all his bookshelves (books included!). While our tastes don't align that often (he's a huge science fiction reader), I noticed that he had this whole series on his shelves. I've heard some good things about these books so I'm excited to see if I like them.


G - Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert: Yes, I finally caved and bought myself a copy. It seems everyone has read this series and here I am, I haven't read anything by Hibbert before. I just purchased the rest of the books in the series so I can binge-read the whole series at once. It's going to be lots of fun!

H - Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne: This book is on my "22 Books to Read in 2022." Surprisingly, I've read a huge chunk of that list already. This one is mainly on there because it is one of the oldest books I have on my shelf and I rarely have any interest in reading it until I'm reminded of the premise. Hopefully, I'll get to this one soon.

I - If I'm Being Honest by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka: I have only read one book by Wibberley and Siegemund-Broka, but I loved their writing so much that I bought some of their backlist, including this one.


J - Jane by April Lindner: Previously, I read a retelling of Wuthering Heights by Lindner and absolutely loved it. This book is a retelling of Jane Eyre, but I have never read Jane Eyre so I'm still debating if I should read the classic first before reading the retelling. Decisions, decisions.

K - King of Scars by Leigh Bardugo: I am slowly making my way through the Grishaverse. Having read the Six of Crows duology first, I am working backwards and have just finished Siege and Storm. Next up is Ruin and Rising and then I'll read King of Scars. Plus, I'm really looking forward to watching the Netflix show when I finish the original trilogy.

L - Linked by Imogen Howson: I don't think I've ever heard anyone talk about this one. It is an older title and, I suppose, it wasn't very popular. I have no clue what the book is even about but I have this one and its sequel on my TBR shelf.


M - Maybe This Time by Kasie West: This book would be perfect to read this time of year, sunny and warm in the spring. I don't know much about it except that it was written by Kasie West and she's an auto-buy author for me.

N - Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey: I tried to avoid sequels for this activity, but I found that I only have this book on my TBR shelf that starts with N. It sounds like a super cute rom-com book!

O - One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston: When this book was first announced, it was being marketed for fans of Kate and Leopold. Kate and Leopold is probably one of the most underrated films ever. I love that movie so I know I must read this book. It's actually on my radar to read this month.


P - Phantom Heart by Kelly Creagh: Back in high school, I adored Creagh's Nevermore series, where Edgar Allen Poe's work came to life. She hasn't written a book since last year so I immediately got a copy when this came out. I can't wait to dive in!

Q - Queen of Air and Darkness by Cassandra Clare: I know, I know. I am so behind in reading Clare's books. I haven't even started The Dark Artifices series yet. And somehow, I've managed to remain unspoiled about all the newer series. Maybe this year will be the year that I catch up on all the Clare books.

R - Realm Breaker by Victoria Aveyard: I loved the Red Queen series so I can't wait to finally pick up Aveyard's new series. The sequel to this is releasing soon.


S - Save the Date by Morgan Matson: I love reading Matson's books but with all my friends getting married now I feel like this book is just going to stress me out. It follows a wedding where everything that could go wrong does go wrong. Yikes. 

T - Teeth in the Mist by Dawn Kurtagich: I've adored Kurtagich's previous work, which border on the supernatural and horror. The synapsis of this one is intentionally vague and all I know about it is that readers follow up to three generations and time periods of characters.

U - Unclaimed Baggage by Jen Doll: I received this one years ago at a book conference and I was so excited to pick it up. I've put this on numerous TBRs but still haven't read it. It's a contemporary book about a group of teens that work at a shop that sells unclaimed goods from the airport. The concept sounds really cool.


V - Vespertine by Margaret Rogerson: I haven't read anything by Rogerson since An Enchantment of Ravens. My main qualm about that book was that it was too short. This one totals 400 pages so I doubt I'll think this one is too short.

W - Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson: I've had this on my shelf for forever and I don't know too much about the series. It's about the Gold Rush era I think. 

X - XOXO by Axie Oh: I'm obsessed with the cover of this book. Since I studied abroad and lived in South Korea, I can't wait to dive into this contemporary romance set there.

Y and Z - It looks like I have no books on my TBR that start with Y and Z. So, I have 24 letters of the alphabet on my TBR. That's pretty cool!

Which book do you think I should prioritize? 

Top Ten Tuesday

10 Authors I Haven't Read From But Want To

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

 I am a person of routine. If I find a great author, I will most definitely be reading more from them. In doing so, I tend to ignore many great authors for the tried and true ones on my shelves. However, the best books of the year are usually from authors I had never read from before. 

I have tons of books on my TBR from new-to-me authors that I hope to read sometime this year. Wish me luck that I adore each and every one of these. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is: 10 Authors I Haven't Read From But Want To:







What new-to-you authors are you hoping to read from this year?

book review

Inspirational and Thought-provoking | Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me by Lily Collins

Friday, April 08, 2022

 Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me by Lily Collins


Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: 3/7/17
Pages: 228
Source: purchased

In this groundbreaking debut essay collection, featuring never-before-seen photos, actress Lily Collins—star of Mortal Instruments and the upcoming Rules Don’t Apply—is opening a poignant, honest conversation about the things young women struggle with: body image, self-confidence, relationships, family, dating, and so much more. For the first time ever, Lily shares her life and her own deepest secrets, underlining that every single one of us experiences pain and heartbreak. We all understand what it’s like to live in the light and in the dark. For Lily, it’s about making it through to the other side, where you love what you see in the mirror and where you embrace yourself just as you are. She's learned that all it takes is one person standing up and saying something for everyone else to realize they’re not alone. By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Lily’s honest voice will inspire you to be who you are and say what you feel. It’s time to claim your voice! It’s time to live your life unfiltered.
In her debut book, Lily Collins gets real with readers. She brings us on a journey of her own self-acceptance. However, her collection of essays ring true with so many that I would not be surprised if you find something to relate to within its pages.

Lily Collins is an actress, best-known for her roles in City of Bones and Love, Rosie. She has proved time and time again to be a fantastic actress that encompasses her characters. With Unfiltered, she takes on the role of herself: the real her—and shows readers how magnificent of a role model she is. Her collection of essays give us a glimpse of her life in an inspirational and thought-provoking light.


Unfiltered plays out as an extension of Collins’ true self, enabling the reader to connect with her experiences. It rings extremely raw, true and fantastically unfiltered. It is a love letter to self-acceptance, an inspirational journey which relates to all ages. Collins discusses her struggles with bullying, insecurities, peer pressure, abusive relationships and eating disorders. These are issues that need to be heard. Unfiltered is the type of book that starts discussions, movements and change.

As each chapter is an essay, this makes reading the book incredibly easy and fast. In Unfiltered, the essay format becomes most evident in her repetition in the introduction and conclusion of the chapter. It does take some getting used to. Collins continuously repeats her highlights and other important things she wants readers to remember. It is extremely quotable and, despite the repetition, these points concern issues that should be repeated.

Unfiltered is so much more than a memoir; it is an inspirational, empowering piece of work that demands several rereads.

Top Ten Tuesday

10 Books I've Recently Unhauled

Tuesday, April 05, 2022

 In celebration of the spring season, I decided to clean my space top to bottom. A huge deep clean resulted in organizing my bookshelves and going through my TBR pile to see which books I really don't have much interest in anymore. One of the things I noticed about myself in this round of unhauls is that I don't read my books in order, in the order I purchase them. Thus, some books sit on my shelves for years and years before I pick them up-- if I ever do-- and some books have a mere day to be acclimated to my shelf before I devour it in one sitting. Most of the books I recently unhauled are older books that I have just lost interest in reading. :(


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week's topic is: (Freebie) 10 Books I Have Recently Unhauled:


When You Were Mine by Rebecca Serle
What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang
Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton


These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman
Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter


Elixir by Hilary Duff 
Ship It by Britta Lundin
The Girl Who Never Was by Skylar Dorset


Blanca and Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore

Have you unhauled any books recently? Which ones?

Tackling my TBR

Tackling My TBR: April 2022

Friday, April 01, 2022

Tackling My TBR is a monthly post, where I share my reading plans for the upcoming month. The concept of a TBR Jar is not a new one. I’ve seen it used in various ways throughout the bookish community. My jar is a little different. The goal is to read the older books on my to-read pile. Thus, instead of putting individual book titles on a small sheet of paper to place in the jar, I wrote a month and a year on each. Each month, I intend to pull three sheets of paper from my jar which will dictate which three books I will read. The dates on the paper correspond with the date I added those books to my Goodreads account. Some months will have over 20 books to choose from, when others may have only one. From Goodreads, I’ll choose the three books from the three different monthly hauls. And if I cannot complete the book within the month, it will be unhauled (with the exception of one pass each month).


In March, I attempted to tackle books from my June 2011, August 2015, and January 2016 book hauls. Immediately after choosing the books I was going to read, I decided to unhaul Guenevere, Queen of the Summer Country by Rosalind Miles. I rarely read historical fiction and after reading some reviews, I don’t think I would have enjoyed this one at all. That left me with Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine and Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas—two books that I would love to get to. I planned on devouring both on audio but I remain on hold for the audiobooks at my local library. Therefore, I’ll have to wait and read them both at a later date (hopefully in April).

From the jar, I picked from the March 2013, February 2011, and April 2018 book hauls. From there I chose the following books:


Immortal War by Justin Somper: I’m doubling up on prompts here since I also pulled this book from my book series jar. It’s the finale of the Vampirates series and it will be awesome to finish another series. This series reads for a younger YA audience but it’s been tons of fun along the way.

Fated by Alyson Noel: I’ve been meaning to pick this one up! I’ve had it on my shelf for forever—in fact, it’s a book that’s been on my TBR the longest. I know very little about the premise but I adored reading books by Noel back in high school so I’m excited to see what she does with this new start to a series.

Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier: My friend gifted this book to me a while back and recommended I read it right away. That didn’t happen but I am finally getting to it now and I’m kind of nervous. It’s a start to a daunting fantasy series that a lot of people love. I hope I love it too.

One of my goals of the new year is to finish more series. So, in addition to my TBR jar, I created a smaller jar with all the book series I want to finish this year. I plan on picking one series out each month and by the end of the year, I should have finished 12 series. In March, I picked out the conclusion to The Honors series by Rachel Caine and Ann Aguirre. It was such a disappointment, but I am happy to have finished the trilogy. This month I picked the finale of the Vampirates series by Justin Somper, Immortal War.

Orilium Readathon

The Orilium Readathon is hosted by booktuber: G at Book Roast. This readathon takes place during the entire month of April. Here is the announcement video. It’s a little complicated as participants are tasked with building their own character and then choosing a calling or career path for their character. The number of prompts or challenges vary depending on certain callings. I have decided to strive toward the Moon Warden calling. For that calling, there are 5 challenges. Here’s the books (and their challenges) I hope to get to:


Lore by Alexandra Bracken (challenge: book featuring healers): The thing about this prompt is that I won’t really know if this book is a good fit until I read it. So, I suppose I’ll read several fantasy on my TBR this month and hope one of those features healers. This book takes Greek mythology and turns it upside down as the gods and goddesses are punished to live their life as mortals. There’s a war brewing so healers should be present, I hope.

That Way Madness Lies edited by Dahlia Adler (challenge: short story/essay collection): I’ve been wanting to get to some of Adler’s anthologies for a while now. This anthology showcases several retellings of Shakespeare’s work. A lot of amazing authors are involved with this project, including Kiersten White, Tochi Onyebuchi, Anne-Marie McLemore, Melissa Bashardoust, K. Ancrum, and so many more.

The Fine Print by Lauren Asher (challenge: top of your TBR): A romance set in a theme park connects my two favorite things—love and literal rollercoasters. I’ve been waiting for the right moment to start this and April feels like the perfect time. I can’t wait!


Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall (challenge: book under 100 pages): It’s just I don’t have any books that are under 100 pages on my TBR so I decided to pick a children’s picture book that sounds incredibly moving. It follows a heart wrenching love story set in an internment camp.

Chasing Lucky by Jenn Bennett (challenge: book with a trope you like): I don’t know what it is but I’m always drawn to bad boy romances. This one follows Josie as she returns to the town she grew up in. After a poorly executed plan of revenge, Josie expects to be in loads of trouble but town bad boy, Lucky, takes the blame instead. And it’s written by Bennett, who I absolutely adore, so I’m expecting an adorable time.

Spring Fling-O-Ween Readathon

Spring Fling-O-Ween Readathon is hosted by booktubers: Olivia at OliviaReadsaLatte and Gabby at GabbyReads. This readathon takes place between April 27th to the 30th. Here is the announcement video. There are 3 challenges (though one is food themed and not a book prompt) for the readathon. Here’s the books (and their challenges) I hope to get to:


One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (challenge: pink or yellow on the cover): I’ve been on hold for this book for eons it seems. I can’t wait to read it! I loved Red, White, and Royal Blue so my expectations are very high on this one. 

Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson (challenge: backlist horror/thriller): I read Eight Perfect Murders by Swanson last year and really enjoyed it. I’m not the biggest thriller fan so it’ll be interesting reading another thriller and seeing my thoughts. I think this one has received polarizing reviews so I’m nervous to try it out.

Apple Pie Bites (challenge: make a fall themed recipe): I found this amazing recipe and hope to give it a try during the readathon. I’m excited to see how it turns out.

What are you planning on reading this month?